LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – With the very hot weather and smoky conditions Lake County is facing, Lake County Public Health wants to remind everyone of some simple ways to find relief that could be important to your health.
“Efforts to tolerate the extreme heat are more complicated this year due to the COVID pandemic, but there are still some actions you can take,” said Public Health Officer Dr. GaryPace.
Pace said some people are at particular risk for suffering heat illness due to an impaired ability to sweat and control their body temperature. These include the very young and those of advanced age, as well as people taking certain medications.
Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are uncertain about how your medications may affect you. Examples of medications that increase the risk of heat-related illness include diuretics (“water pills”), some medications used for mental health conditions, antihistamines, and drugs used for overactive bladder, Pace said.
Pace said things you can do to cool off are:
– Drink more water than usual and don’t wait until you’re thirsty;
– Wear loosely fitting, light-colored, breathable clothes;
– Keep your physical activity low;
– Drink cool non-alcoholic beverages and choose salads, cold sandwiches and frozen treats over hot meals;
– Apply cool compresses, such as wet towels, to exposed skin, or take a cool shower or bath;
– Avoid use of ovens, stoves, or other heat-generating appliances indoors.
Remember, running a fan will help cool you off only if there is sweat or moisture evaporating from your skin, Pace said.
“If you need relief from hot conditions in your home, in past years we have recommended going to public places with air conditioning, such as local libraries, senior centers, restaurants, and shopping centers,” Pace said. “Many of these places are not available this year due to the COVID concerns. Senior centers are closed. You can still go to shopping centers, but often the seating areas are not open. Going to visit friends who have air conditioning can also pose a problem due to needs to social distance.”
Per County Librarian Christopher Veach, the Lakeport and Redbud libraries are both open their normal hours, and freely accessible to the public. Both facilities are being cooled, and may be utilized on a limited basis by members of the community. If either reaches capacity, a one-hour time limit will be enforced, Pace said.
Pace said the Middletown Library is open by appointment only, but can still serve as a cooling center for a one-hour appointment. Upper Lake Library is too small to function as a cooling center.
Location, hours and contact information for the libraries is as follows:
– Lakeport Library, 1425 N. High St., telephone 707-263-8817; Tuesdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Wednesdays, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Thursdays through Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
– Redbud Library, 14785 Burns Valley Road, Clearlake, telephone 707-994-5115; Tuesdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Wednesdays, noon to 7 p.m.; Thursdays through Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
– Middletown Library, 21256 Washington St., telephone 707-987-3674; open by appointment only.
Pace said to monitor how you feel and how friends and family members appear. “Signs and symptoms of heat illness can be easily overlooked in the early stages and it is important to take action early in order to prevent heat exhaustion from progressing to the more serious condition of heatstroke.”
He added, “If you notice heavy sweating, feeling weak or dizzy, nausea or muscle cramps, move to a cool place, sip water, and put cool wet cloths on your body. If this does not improve the symptoms within an hour, medical evaluation is advisable.”
People who develop mental confusion, feel faint or pass out and have hot dry skin (indicating that they are not capable of sweating in order to cool off), have a medical emergency that needs immediate treatment, he said.
He also said to remember to protect pets by keeping them indoors (never in a car) or in the shade with plenty of cool water to drink.
For more information on how to beat the heat, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or California Office of Emergency Services websites.
Public Health officer offers tips for cooling off and staying healthy
- Lake County News reports
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